The U.S. Department of Commerce today announced that 6.0 million international visitors(1)(2) traveled to the United States in April 2016, down eight percent (-8.3%) from April 2015. With this decline, April is the third consecutive monthly decrease in total U.S. visits.
In April 2016 the top inbound markets continued to be Canada and Mexico. Non-resident visits from Canada declined 16 percent while visits from Mexico decreased four percent. The United Kingdom (-11%), Japan (-5%) and France (-9%) rounded out the top five. Four of the top inbound overseas regional markets(3) posted increases in non-resident visits in April 2016, with Western Europe, South America, Oceania, the Caribbean, and Africa posting declines.
For the first four months of 2016, international visits (22.5 million) were down two percent(-2.3%) when compared to the same period in 2015.
HIGHLIGHTS
Top 10 Countries
- In April 2016 two of the top 10 countries posted increases in non-resident visits.
- During the first four months of 2016, five of the top 10 countries (sort based on April 2016) posted increases in non-resident visits to the United States.
Top 10 Countries (Sort based on April 2016)
Country of Residence
% Change April 2016 vs. 2015
% Change YTD April 2016 vs. 2015
Canada
-16
-14
Mexico
-4
4
United Kingdom
-11
3
Japan
-5
-1
France
-9
-4
People’s Republic of China (excluding Hong Kong)
7
15
Germany
-15
-7
South Korea
3
13
Brazil
-25
-25
Australia
-2
2
Non-Resident Visits from Overseas(4) Countries
- In April 2016 non-resident visits from overseas countries (2.9 million) were down five percent over April 2015, accounting for 48 percent of total international visits to the United States.
- During the first four months of 2016, non-resident visits from overseas countries (10.8 million) were up two percent compared to the same period of 2015, accounting for 48 percent of total international visits.
Top Ports: Year to Date April 2016
- Visitation through the top 15 ports of entry accounted for 86 percent of all overseas visits, more than half of one percent less than last year.
- The top three ports (New York JFK, Miami, and Los Angeles) accounted for 42 percent of all overseas arrivals, the same as last year.
- Five of the top 15 ports posted single-digit increases in arrivals. No ports posted double-digit increases.
Pleasure Travel vs. Business Travel: Year to Date April 2016
- Of the top 20 overseas countries with visits to the United States, more than 90 percent of the visits recorded from Argentina (94%) and Ecuador (94%) represented pleasure travel to the United States. On the contrary, 25 percent or more of the visits recorded from the Netherlands (29%), Germany (28%), and India (25%) represented business travel to the United States.
- Of all overseas non-resident visits to the United States, 78.5 percent represented pleasure travel and 16.5 percent represented business travel.
Special Note: Reprocessing March and April 2016 I-94 Arrivals Data
- In reviewing the preliminary March and April 2016 I-94 arrivals data, it was noticed that there was an unusual decline in I-94 records for residents of overseas countries who traveled to Guam and Saipan.
- This trend started in March 2016 because the U.S. Department of Homeland Security/U.S. Customs and Border Protection did not include several classes of admission that had previously been a part of the I-94 monthly arrivals dataset.
- Preliminary March and April 2016 data are currently being reprocessed, predominately affecting overseas travel from selected Asian countries and Russia to Guam and Saipan.
- Approximately 36,000 records will be added to the March and April totals, with revised March and April 2016 I-94 arrivals data now scheduled for release by the end of October 2016.
- It is our objective to report the monthly I-94 arrivals data in a consistent and accurate format to support the informational needs of the travel industry.
Access to National Travel and Tourism Office Monthly Arrivals DataTo access international travel and tourism statistics from the U.S. Travel and Tourism Statistical System, visit the National Travel and Tourism Office I-94 monthly arrivals page at http://travel.trade.gov/view/m-2016-I-001/index.asp
(P) = 2016 I-94 arrivals data are Preliminary with these data subject to revisions. (1)2016(p) I-94 arrivals data are official, but subject to further revision, if warranted (see ‘Special Note’ this month). Situations that allow for revision include improved solutions and/or sources discovered by the Departments of Commerce and Homeland Security as they complete the automation and migration of records. (2)2014, 2015 and 2016 data sets are based on the same criteria, including the same visitor visa types and the ‘one night or more’ definition of a traveler. In addition, the methodology for identifying travelers with respect to Country of Residence (COR), and infilling records with missing COR data, is consistent for the three years. The years differ only in that 2015 contained more I-94 records as a result of automating the paper I-94 forms. Therefore, 2014, 2015, and 2016 arrivals data are arguably more comprehensive and credible than previous years. (3)The nine major overseas regions are: Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Oceania, South America, Central America and the Caribbean. (4)Overseas includes all countries except Canada and Mexico.
SourceU.S. Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration, National Travel and Tourism Office as well as Statistics Canada’s International Travel Survey and Banco de Mexico travel data.
